Staff and volunteers at Swansea University’s Egypt Centre are celebrating this week after receiving the prestigious ‘Wales Volunteer of the Year Group’ award from The Wales Council for Voluntary Action and, as importantly, receiving recognition from the Welsh Assembly Government for the innovative ways in which the volunteers engage with the public to attract a younger audience.
The Egypt Centre, which welcomes more than 20,000 visitors throughout the year, has over 100 volunteers – including schoolchildren – who give up their time to help make the museum such a successful attraction.
Wendy Goodridge, who has the dream job of Assistant Curator for the Egypt Centre at Swansea University, explained: “I was the first volunteer – I knocked on the doors in 1997 and I haven’t looked back since.
“Almost everyone who works here is a volunteer. I think the attraction is a sense of ownership and belonging. It’s a family atmosphere and the main thing is it builds self-esteem. We have got volunteers who now have so much confidence they give guided tours and talks. I think that enthusiasm is infectious – it’s their museum and this comes across to visitors.”
The valuable work undertaken by the volunteers includes answering visitors enquiries, giving guided tours, working as activity leaders for school groups, serving in the shop, aiding security by policing the two galleries and, not least, ensuring that the museum is safe and clean and that all equipment is working.
Before leading on the ‘hands-on’ visitor activities, the volunteers are given the opportunity to learn how to mummify – using a dummy mummy; handle real Egyptian objects; play ancient Egyptian games; and write in hieroglyphics.
The volunteer group is unique in its diversity. It includes a high percentage of ethnic minorities and people with physical and mental disabilities. It is unique among UK museums in including child volunteers of all backgrounds and abilities – aged 10 years and above – while some of the older volunteers are aged over 80.
he volunteers are an inspiration to each other and, for many, the experience can be life-changing; developing valuable skills, knowledge and self-confidence in return for their enthusiasm.
Deborah Cooze, Development Worker for the Children’s University in Swansea, concluded: “Community pride is such that local people bring friends and family to the Egypt Centre and recommend the museum to others.”
The Egypt Centre, which is located on Swansea University’s campus, is around one of 160 museums in Wales to hold collections for display to the public. The Egypt Centre is open between 10am and 4pm Tuesday through to Saturday, except on Bank Holidays.
